US Open wildcards: Venus Williams and Dominic Thiem handed slots
Former champions Venus Williams and Dominic Thiem have been handed wildcards into the US Open.
Williams made her return to singles competition at the Citi Open in Washington earlier this month.
The future of her tennis career is still a matter of conjecture with her younger sister announcing that she is transitioning away from the sport.
Williams, who won at Flushing Meadows in 2000 and 2001, will compete at the age of 42 as she continues a comeback from a recent injury.
The elder Williams sister, whose sibling Serena is set to retire at the end of the tournament, played in Washington and Toronto having previously spent a year out and will appear in New York for the first time since 2020.
Thiem, champion in 2020, has also been handed a place in the main draw as he continues his recovery from a serious injury.
The Austrian – who is currently ranked 228 – suffered a wrist injury that curtailed most of 2021 and the first part of 2022.
Americans Sofia Kenin, who won the Australian Open in 2020 and is also coming back from a long lay-off, Sam Querrey and Coco Vandeweghe have also been handed wildcards by the United States Tennis Association.
Having slipped out of the top 400 Kenin recently returned to competition following an extended injury break.
The USTA also announced an additional four American wildcards.
Elizabeth Mandlik won the USTA’s Wildcard Challenge during a summer that saw her make her WTA main-draw debut at San Jose and win her debut tour match.
The 21-year-old is not the only debutant among the main draw wildcards for the US Open with 20-year-old NCAA singles champion Peyton Stearns and USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s National Championships winner Eleana Yu also handed berths.
Coco Vandeweghe won her first title in six years atlast week’s WTA 125 event in Concord, Massachusetts and convinced organisers to give her a main draw slot.
France’s Harmony Tan and Ugo Humbert receive reciprocal wildcards while Australians Rinky Hijikata and Jaimee Fourlis also benefit from the arrangement with the USTA.
Gael Monfils’ injury woes continue as he withdraws from US Open
The oldest of the men’s wildcards, Sam Querrey is a full 18 years older than the youngest wildcard entrant into the men’s singles.
USTA Boys’ 18s National Champion Learner Tien is the youngest of the group aged just 16 and is joined by another teenager in NCAA singles champion Ben Shelton.
Other wildcards include 20-year-old Emilio Nava, who reached the boys’ singles finals at both the 2019 Australian and US Opens and 23-year-old J.J. Wolf.
Latest
-
ATP Tour
Pundit identifies turning point in Carlos Alcaraz-Jannik Sinner match – ‘It was on Sinner’s racket’
‘Phenomenal’ Carlos Alcaraz praised for changing tactics.
-
ATP Tour
What Carlos Alcaraz’s win over Jannik Sinner means for rankings as Novak Djokovic opens door for chasing pack
Carlos Alcaraz claimed a double win at the Indian Wells Open.
-
ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz reveals what gives him extra motivation to beat Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz also revealed how he changed his game to beat Jannik Sinner.
-
ATP Tour
Jannik Sinner reveals huge injury scare in comment to Carlos Alcaraz in Indian Wells
Jannik Sinner appeared to suffer wrist and calf injuries in his defeat against Carlos Alcaraz.
-
ATP Tour
Jannik Sinner crashes to his first defeat of the season in epic Indian Wells showdown
Jannik Sinner’s unbeaten start to 2024 brought to a thumping end by Carlos Alcaraz.
-
News
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner set to have their friendship pushed to breaking point
Alcaraz and Sinner have built up a strong bond, but that is set to be tested.
-
ATP Tour
Daniil Medvedev reveals his biggest peeve and why he is proud of his daughter
Daniil Medvdev reveals what he hates most.
-
WTA Tour
Ex-coach Darren Cahill breaks his silence on the end of Simona Halep’s doping ban
Simona Halep has been lauded by her former coach Darren Cahill ahead of her comeback at the Miami Open.
-
Tennis News
Stan Wawrinka issues dire warning against Premium Tour proposal
Stan Wawrinka has warned against what he suggested was an attempted power grab by the Grand Slams.
-
Tennis News
Tommy Paul savours ‘the good life’ as Sunshine Swing serves up barbeques with Paige Lorenze and match wins
Tommy Paul couldn’t be happier right now.